Cervantes Corporation completes RC drilling to test historic gold lodes at Blue Heaven exploration target

Cervantes Corporation Ltd (ASX:CVS) has completed a 47-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program for 3,060 metres at the Primrose Gold Project in Western Australia in support of converting the Blue Heaven exploration target to a JORC resource. The program was also designed to test highly prospective ground not previously drilled, such as known lines of lode including major quartz veins along which shallow mines have been developed.  Around eight of the holes will be used to check the veracity of previously obtained gold intersections and guide the small-scale variability of those zones. The upcoming assay results together with a previously completed high-definition digital elevation survey and DGPS locational checks of available historic collars, will be used to support the conversion of the conceptual exploration target, which stands at 170,000 to 520,000 tonnes at 2.2 to 4.5 g/t gold. An additional 33 holes were drilled to infill areas within the exploration target zone and to test for extensions of the known gold mineralisation. Previously unassayed diamond core from historic drilling is being assessed and will be submitted for core cutting and assaying. Untested targets Six holes were drilled as new target exploration holes and included drilling of the 'primary gold' mineralisation determined by CSA Global for the previous operator, Paynes Find Gold Ltd (PNE), but never tested. RC hole CSVRC81 was designed to test for Primrose Shear hosted, large tonnage and moderate grade gold mineralisation and provides a test of possible ultramafic-hosted gold mineralisation to the west of the Primrose Shear. Nearby historic hole PFRC116 intersected 12 metres at 6.62 g/t gold from 10 metres on the west side of the Primrose Shear. RC holes were drilled as initial tests of the Marigold Trend, Sweet William Blue Bell, Aster and Havela Lines of Lode, none of which have previously been drilled before. Primrose shear gold target  Unassayed diamond core Cervantes holds the physical core and pulps for all drilling completed by PNE. These holes were drilled using accepted QA/QC processes however, significant portions of the diamond core have never been assayed. PNE’s interest was in the deeper quartz lode intercepts, ignoring the possibility of shallower ultramafic hosted gold. Inspection of that core indicates sulphides, alteration, and quartz veining is present in those shallower portions. Around 119 trays of core, representing about 530 metres have been marked for further assessment. Background  The Blue Heaven area covers the core of the historic Paynes Find goldfield and was the major focus of drilling during the June quarter. Back in 2020, Cervantes reviewed this data and confirmed and rectified collar locations with a high-definition digital elevation survey supported by spot DGPS on the ground surveying. Prior to the previous explorer exiting the field, CSA Global was commissioned to undertake a review of the geological data for the purpose of improving the understanding of the structural and lithostratigraphic controls on mineralisation in this goldfield. CSA recognised two gold mineralising events: Shear related quartz veining with high-grade gold tightly bound within segmented and boudinaged quartz veins within the gneiss lithologic units – the main target for the historic mining activities. This is interpreted to represent remobilised gold; and Moderate grade, but more consistent gold mineralisation along the sheared contact between mafic amphibolite and gneiss that is interpreted as the primary gold mineralising event. The previous explorer focused on the first style and it is this style that represents all of the historic Paynes Find gold mines. These mines were developed on secondary structures associated with the Primrose Shear - more than 37 historic mines occur within the area. The second style, interpreted to be closely associated with the Primrose Shear itself, has not been well tested. Historic drill hole PFRC116 may possibly represent this style, having a thicker intersection with moderate grade - this style has been overlooked up until now as it is not generally associated with quartz veining.